Frankfurter broiler



s. NELSON FRANKFURTER BROILER Filed March 23, .1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR v STEWART NEZSO/V WORNEY March 28, 1939.

s'. NELSON VFRANKFUIRTEYR BROILER Filed March 23, '19s? 2 sheet -sha 2TOR STEWART NELSON TTORNEY Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE This invention relates to improvements in electric broilers forfrankfurters and the like wherein the frankfurters'are arranged in theelectric circuit and therefore act as resistance tothe flow of currenttherethrough. In this manner heat is generated within the frankfurterswhereby, after a suitable time, they are deliciously broiled.

The present invention contemplates, several improvements in design andarrangement over my application Serial No. 750,242, filed October 27,1934, and allowed January 14,1937.

According to this invention, an improved form and arrangement of knifeelectrodes is contemplated, the special novelty residing in the newcross-section thereof, in the efiicient manner of mounting saidelectrods,'and in the novel design of their piercing edges.

Another contemplated improvement resides in the novel design of the baseand outer, cover by means of which said cover may be quickly and easilylifted, all annoying projections being omitted in said design. I

Still another feature resides in the arrangement between the base andintermediate cover for effectively holding in position frankfurtersconfined in complementary cavities in said base and cover, thecontemplated novelty also including the particular design of thecavities whereby splitting of the frankfurters is obviated. The specialform of resilient means for-retaining the intermediate cover inposition, also forms a feature of the invention.

A further contemplated improvement resides in the means for both lockingthe intermediate cover in place and for freeing said cover after thefrankfurters are broiled and ready for removal.

The invention also contemplates the incorporation of a time-controlledswitch in the electric circuit which not only times the broiling.operation but also interrupts the current to the electrodes sothecovers may be safely lifted for re-,

moval of the broiled frankfurters. Another feature resides in the meansfor removably mounting 4 said time switch. As will be later apparent,many otherfeatures and advantageain addition to those above enumerated,form part of the objects of the invention which may be realized in thephysical form as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. II]. thedrawings:-

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, with parts broken away for clearerillustration, of a. broiler as at present contemplated.

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof, partly in crossa section. 7

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view from front to back of the broiler astaken through one of the frankfurter cavities.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view with the outer cover lifted and theintermediate cover in the 5 [process of being lifted.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showingelectrode details and their manner of entering the frankfurter.

Describing the drawings in greater-detail, the present constructionincludes a base I0 preferably moulded of dielectric material andhollowed on its underside as shown. The top of the base is preferablyprovided with a series of substantially parallel cavities ll each ofwhich, as at present 15 contemplated, has a righteangular orV-crosssection terminating at both ends in converging portions. Saidconverging portions are also of v-cross-sectionr. l

The base is associated with an intermediate 20 cover l2 of like materialto the base and this cover is provided with cavities l3 complementaryand in respective mating relation to the cavities in the base. As willbe more particularly seen from Figure 2, each pair of mating cavitiesforms 25 an enclosure or chamber into which frankfurters or the like maybe non-displaceably held.

Attention is called to the walls of both cavities, said walls beingsubstantially straight. It is apparent therefrom that a frankfurter,which is round in section, would be contacted only by midportions of thementioned cavity walls. Hence, when .the intermediate cover is clampedinto place, the normally round cross-section of the frankfurter will bechanged to a cushion-shaped section as shown by the broken lines ofFigure 2 at F; a It is apparent from the foregoing that the frankfurterswill be effectively held in the cavities during the broiling' period.This will obviate their tendency to burst when contained moisture isconverted into steam during said broiling p o Y It is essential,however, that the natural tendency for the frankfurters to expand, betaken into 45 account. For this reason the intermediate cover I! isyieldingly mounted. A preferred means for accomplishing this includes apair of spaced bifurcated lugs- M on said cover, each being providedwith a hinge pin l5. Each hinge pin has afflxed 50 to it a downreachingrod or the like l6 which. terminates in a head l1. As shown, each rodand its head is arranged for vertical movement in a passage l8 formed inthe base Ill and a coil compression spring I! is strung on the rodbetween the head and the bottom of the top wall 20 of the base. Thusitcan be seen that the cover 12 is hinged in relation to the base and alsois movable vertically in relation thereto, the springs l9 acting to holdthe cover firmly in place and yet yielding to the expanding force of thefrankfurter without, however, lessening the confined arrangement of thefrankfurters in their respective cavities.

The above-described yieldable hinges are preferably positioned at therear of the broiler so that the intermediate cover may be swung upwardfrom the front of the machine. The front portion of the cover I2 isassociated with combined latching means and yieldable means such asprovided at the rear thereof. In the present form, the cover I2 isprovided with a pair of forwardly extending spaced lugs 2 I, cam surface22 on its upper edge. Carried on rods 23, the counterparts of rods IS, abridge-like member 24 is provided, hinged to and between the upper endsof said rods 23 as at 25.

Coacting with each lug 2i, the member 24 is provided with a locking arm26 adapted to engage the cam faces on said lugs. Thus, when the ends ofthe arms 26 are disposed in the leftmost portions of the cams (Figure 3)the springs 21 will act to hold the lugs 2| and thus the cover l2, downon the base, and when the arms are swung towards the right (Figure 4)said lugs are freed so the cover may be lifted. However, it will benoted that the bridge overstandlng the lugs prevents the cover beinglifted. For this reason, the rods 23 are arranged in passages 28 whichare designed to permit front to back and also angular movement of saidrods. In this manner the. arc of travel of the lugs may be cleared ofinterference by the bridge 24.

It is desired to simultaneously free the cover for opening and to liftsaid cover about its hinge. To accomplish this, a curved finger 23 isformed .on the bridge and arranged to coact with a seat formed on thecover l2. ure 4, as the handle 3! on the bridge, is raised, the finger29 engages the seat 30 so the cover I2 is raised on its rear hinges asthe arms 26 become freed from the earns 22. Continued movement of thehandle will raise the cover further until it may be manually grasped tobe opened to its full extent.

Now, it can be seen that the cover I2 is resiliently mounted at fourpoints so thatitis free to move under the urgency of the expansiveforces within the frankfurter and at the same time firmly exerts apressure upon them as hereinbefore set forth.

In order to supply electric current to the frankfurters within thecavities, it is herein contemplated to provide a series of knives orelectrodes Hence, as seen in Fig- 32 adapted to pierce the frankfurtersimmediately.

adjacent their ends. As shown, a knife is disposed in the end of eachcavity formed between the base and the cover. vided a series of knivesor electrodes 33 disposed between each pair of electrodes 32 in anycavity.

, Asnow conceived, all of the electrodes are pref.

erably carried by an outer dielectric cover 34, and

as shown, a dielectric plate 35 fastened to the cover may have theseelectrodes permanently fixed thereon. Electric current may be brought tothe electrodes from a plug 30 to prongs 31 and 38 respectivelyconnected, as by bus bars 33 and 40, to the respective series ofelectrodes 32, 33.

In order to efliciently carry the current to the e ctrodes, the upperends of each electrode may each formed with a In addition there isprofurter which these prongs are adapted to enter.

As shown particularly in Figure 5, each of the electrodes 32 and 33 aresharpened at their lower ends, the lateral portions of all theelectrodes being angled so as to be conveniently accommodated in theV-shaped cavities in the base. It will be noted that the bevels 54formed when the lateral portions of the electrodes are sharpened, faceeach other. This is desirable since, when entering the meat of thefrankfurter, the electrodes will thus tend to compress the meat of thefrankfurter along the opposing faces 55. This is a desirable featurebecause of the tendency of the cooked meat of the frankfurter to curlaway from the electrodes. The initial compression imparted to the meataround the electrodes compensates for this tendency.

Thus the design of the electrodes together with the V-shaped confiningcavities serve to keep the meat of the frankfurter in close contact withthe electrodes, thecurling away of the meat, being a common fault inprevious designs.

The electrodes, in order to have access to the frankfurters, arearranged to pass through openings 42 in the intermediate cover l2, eachopening being shaped similarly to the electrode which passestherethrough but of suflicient size to permit freedom of movement ofsaid intermediate cover as herein contemplated and previously described.

cal walls of the seat 43 will serve to prevent the' ends of thefrankfurter from extending beyond the outer edges of the intermediatecover, when said cover is clamped down on said frankfurter, since theconverging and tapered ends of the cavities will be enabled to force andguide said frankfurter ends into the cavity, said tapered endsfunctioning as cams to squeeze the frankfurter ends back into thecavity.

In a suitable manner, the cover 34 is hinged as at 44 to the base, beingadapted to completely cover the intermediate cover l2. In order tofacilitate lifting of said outer cover and to obviate projecting handlesand the like, theouter cover is provided with a lip suchas 45overstanding a recess in the base, said recess affording access to thelip so that the cover may be conveniently raised about its hinges.

The present invention contemplating means for timing the broiling periodof the frankfurters, is provided as at 41, with a time switch ofcommercial design, but it is preferred, however, to mount this switch soit is readily removable when it is desired to clean the other elementsof the device. For this purpose, the base, at under portions thereof, isformed with lugs or the like 48 between which a dielectric mountingplate 43, to

' and a switch lever 52 arranged for access from the outside of thedevice, said levers passing through slots in the base for this reason.

As can be seen from Figure 4 an electric cable 53, from a currentsource, is brought to the time switch 41 and a cable connection 53 ismade between the time switch and the plug 38. Thus the electric circuitis carried to the electrodes when the time switch is closed, and openedwhen the time switch is open. Obviously, the base may be formed with aslot 55, to accommodate the cables 53 and 53 in a manner which willpermit their ready removal upon removal of the time switch.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 5, the transverse portions of theelectrodes are sufiicient to carry electric current to the frankfurter.However, the disclosed T and H cross-sections for the electrodes aredesirable since each electrode is formed with a web which serves toconduct away generated heat. the electrodes in addition toprovidingrigid reinforced members capable of uninterrupted use.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that a practical and considerablyrefined form of broiler has been provided. It is also apparent that thepresent design may be varied within the spirit and scope of theinvention. Hence, the prior art rather than the instant disclosureshould determine the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A frankfurter broiler comprising a base having'cavities receptive offrankfurters, said cavities being of substantially V-shapedcross-section and having convergingends, a cover hinged to said base,frankfurter piercing electrodes carried by the cover and adapted toenter said cav-' ities when said cover is closed, said electrodes beingarranged in three banks, two of said banks being electrodes of T-shaped'cross-section and the other of H -shaped cross-section, and means forconfining the franki'urters in their respective cavities, said meansbeingresiliently mounted and having cavities cooperative with andcomplementary to the cavities in the base.

2. A frankfurter broiler comprising a base, an intermediate coverresiliently mounted on said base and being adapted to hinge in relationthereto, both the base and the mentioned cover being formed to providecavities in which frankfurters maybe confined between them, saidcavities being of substantially square cross-section and havingconverging ends, an outer cover hinged to said base and adapted toenclose the intermediate cover, and frankfurter piercing electrodescarried by the outer cover and adapted to pass through openings in theintermediate cover and to enter the cavities formed in the base whensaid outer cover is closed, some of said electrodes being of T-shapedcross-section and others being of H-shaped cross-section.

3. In a device of the character described, a plurality of irankfurterpiercing electrodes arranged in two sets, one set being adapted topierce the frankfurters adjacent their ends and the other set beingadapted to pierce the frankfurters at their approximate middle,-theformer elec- This obviates overheating of trodes being ofT-shaped-cross-section and the latter of H shaped cross-section.

, .4. In a device of the character described, a plurality of frankfurterpiercing electrodes arranged in two sets, one set being adapted topierce the frankfurters adjacent their ends and the other set beingadapted to pierce the frankiurters at their approximate middle, theformer electrodes being of T-shaped cross-section and the latter ofH-shaped cross-section, and means connecting said electrodes to a sourceof electric current whereby current is passed through the frankfurterbetween the electrodes.

5. In a device of the character described, a base, a cover memberadapted to rest on a seat formed in said base, means for resilientlypressing said member down on its seat and adapting said member forvertical movement and for lim-' ited lateral movement in relation to thebase,

v and means for latching said member to said base, said latter meanscomprising a pair of spaced resiliently mounted rods, a bridge memberhingedly mounted between said rods and carried thereby, a pair of spacedlugs on the mentioned cover member, and means carried by said bridgemember having locking engagement with ber hingedly mounted between andon said rods,

a pair of spaced lugs on the mentioned cover member, and means carriedby said bridge having locking engagement with said lugs, and

means for lifting said cover member upon release of said latching means,said means comprising cooperating portions on the bridge member and onsaid cover member.

7. In a frankfurter broiler, a base and a cover member, said covermember having spaced hinge lugs which are engaged by a hinge pin tovertically sliding rods resiliently'mounted in said base, a. T-shapedmember having locking means in engagement with said cover member, saidT- shaped member being pivotally engaged with rods having yieldableengagement with said base, and means on said member for lifting saidcover member upon release of said locking means.

8. In a frankfurter broiler, a base, a cover member resiliently mountedon said base, a T- shaped member having'locking means in engagement withsaid cover member, and means for positively lifting said cover memberupon release of said locking means, said last-mentioned means comprisinga finger on said T-shaped member and a cooperating portion on said covermember.

9. In a .frankfurter broiler two permanently spaced electrodes, eachadapted to enter and contact the meat of a frankfurter, the piercingends of said electrodes being formed with chiselshaped beveled portionsadapted to compress the adjacent meat of said frankfurter; said beveledportions being on opposed portions of said spaced electrodes.

10. In a frankfurterbroiler, a knife electrode adapted to enter andcontact the meat of a frankfurter, one side of the piercing end of saidelectrode being formed with a chisel-shaped beveled portion adapted tocompressthe adjacent meat of said frankfurter, and the opposite side ofsaid electrode having a longitudinal rib to reinforce the electrode andto aid in conducting away generated heat.

11. In a. device of the character described, a plurality of frankfurterpiercing electrodes arranged in two sets, one set being adapted topierce the frankfurters adjacent their ends and the other set beingadapted to pierce the frankfurters at their approximate middle, theformer electrodes being of T-shaped cross-section and the latter ofH-shaped cross-section, the electrodes being so arranged with'respect toeach other that the broadside of the heads of the T-shaped electrodesface the broadside of the legs of the H electrodes.

12. In a device of the character described, a

plurality of frankfurter piercingelectrodes arranged in two sets, oneset being adapted to pierce the frankfurters adjacent their ends and theother set being adapted to pierce the frankfurters at their approximatemiddle, the former electrodes being of T-shaped cross-section and thelatter of H-shaped cross section, the electrodes being so arranged withrespect to each other that the broadside of the heads of the T-shapedelectrodes face the broadside of the legs of the H electrodes, thepiercing end of said electrodes being formed with chisel-shaped. beveledportions adapted to compress the adjacent meat of the fr'ankfurter, saidbeveled portions being on opposed portions of said spaced electrodes.

13. In a device of the character described, a

plurality of frankfurter piercing electrodes arranged in two sets, oneset being adapted to pierce the frankfurters adjacent their ends and theother set being adapted to pierce the frankfurters at their approi dmatemiddle, the former electrodes being of T-shaped cross-section and thelatter of H-shaped cross-section, the electrodes being so arranged withrespect to each rent through the frankfurter, the broadsides of I theelectrodes facing each other being beveled at their piercing ends tochisel-shape to compress the adjacent meat of the frankfurter, and theopposite sides of said electrodes having a longitudinal rib to reinforcethe electrodes and to aid in conducting away generated heat.

14. The combination with a frankfurter broiler having a base andelectrodes for piercing frankfurters, and having a source of electriccurrent whereby current is passed through the frankfurters between theelectrodes; of'a time switch removably connectible in said electriccircuit, lugs on the underside of said base adapted to slidably receivethe base of the time switch, resilient portions on said time switch baseand protuberances on said broiler base with which the resilient portionsfrictionally engage to hold the time switch in removable engagement withthe broiler base. i STEWART NELSON.

